Man City ‘make contact’ with Karim Benzema and interested in shock swap transfer involving Pedri and Raheem Sterling

MANCHESTER CITY are reportedly keen on a double swoop for Karim Benzema and Pedri, with Raheem Sterling set to make way.

Pep Guardiola is keen to add an out-and-out striker to his ranks, with Gabriel Jesus his only current option.

APBenzema has scored 15 goals in 17 games this season[/caption]

GettySterling netted in the 2-1 Champions League win over PSG in midweek[/caption]

ReutersPedri has been linked with Man City in a straight swap involving Sterling[/caption]

Spanish outlet El Nacional report that City have ‘forgotten’ about a transfer for Harry Kane, after the England skipper has scored just once in the Premier League this season.

Instead they have ‘contacted’ Benzema’s representatives, who are ‘very receptive’ to a potential move to the Premier League.

Benzema, 33, has been the main man for Los Blancos since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, but that is set to change in the summer.

Kylian Mbappe is widely expected to seal a move to the Bernabeu, with Erling Haaland also a target.

A move for two of the hottest properties in world football would inevitably see Benzema’s game time plummet, so a move to City who lack a number nine is an attractive prospect for the Frenchman.

Elsewhere Guardiola is preparing for a future without Sterling.

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The Englishman has started just four Premier League games this season and is the subject of continued interest from Barcelona.

A different El Nacional report states Xavi is willing to make the 26-year-old an ‘undisputed starter’ at Camp Nou, something Guardiola is not offering at the Etihad.

But the cash-strapped Catalans don’t have the £60million City want for the winger.

A January loan move has been rumoured, although the club can only afford half of his £300k-a-week wages.

Barca did offer a swap deal involving Ousmane Dembele in the summer, but Guardiola only has eyes for midfielder Pedri.

The 19-year-old was recently named as 2021 Golden Boy and was previously regarded as one of Barcelona’s prized assets.

However recent injury problems mean president Joan Laporta no longer sees the Spain international as ‘untouchable,’ and could be prepared to let him leave.

He has played just 158 minutes of action in La Liga this term.

Guardiola is willing to part ways with Sterling if it means landing Pedri, but the 72-cap England man is said to be reluctant to leave Manchester.

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